The overwhelming majority of information about domestic violence details violence against women. As such, many people seem to think that violence against men is either non-existent or so uncommon it's barely worth mentioning. This simply is not the case. Most domestic violence advocates point to crime statistics to bolster the idea that men are more violent, and by those figures alone, it would appear that they are correct. However, if we apply critical thinking and dig a bit deeper, we find that these numbers are only telling part of the story.

Criminal statistics, by definition, document criminal activity that has been reported to law enforcement. If a woman is struck by her male partner, she is more likely to suffer physical damage. If she suffers physical damage, law enforcement is more likely to become involved. If law enforcement becomes involved, the incident becomes a crime statistic. This is generally where domestic violence advocates obtain their data. Also, many will only use data pertaining to women.

By contrast, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released the results of their 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), which found that "1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime". The violence described include slapping, kicking, choking, burning, or the use of a knife or gun. In addition, the Family Research Laboratory (FRL) in New Hampshire has consistently found that rates of physical abuse between partners is equal. The first study was run in 1975, and was repeated in 1985 and 1992. The Family Research Laboratory used self-reporting surveys to gather their data. In effect, they gathered information from those who both had and had not involved law enforcement in their abusive relationships.